In one of the city photography galleries the proprietor
had a show case in which he exhibited pictures which the sitters failed to call for, he labeled it,
"Shades Of The Departed."

~ Abraham Bogardus, 1895 ~

Thursday, January 17, 2013

How To Archive Family Keepsakes - Many Things Thursday

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things."

Thursday, on Shades Of The Departed, will be dedicated to
many things, and nothing in particular.

HOW TO ARCHIVE FAMILY KEEPSAKES

Thursday on Shades is pleased to join the Blog Book Tour for a new resource - How to Archive Family Keepsakes. From
the hand and mind of Denise Levenick (aka Penelope Dreadful), The Family Curator, comes a true family treasure in the form of, How To Archive Family Keepsakes.

About The Author Denise Levenick, Shadesown Penny Dreadful

Many of us find ourselves in the position of family curator. How each
of us deals with that position is often the true story. Denise
Levenick has a longtime interest in her family history. Stories of her
maternal grandmother growing up in Colorado and Kansas nurtured that
interest and a steamer trunk full of letters and photographs sparked her
odyssey.While wandering the web one day I bumped into Denise's experiment in family history. She was writing about a transcription project for her class of high school studentsusing her family letters. I was hooked on her project and her writing. I asked Denise to write a Friday from the Collectors articleand we've been friends ever since.The story of her student transcription project can be found here, Reading Women's History - A Family History Project in theHigh School English Classroom.

When the idea for a work of fiction associated with an old photograph, called Penny Dreadfuls, was formed on Shades The Magazine, Denise was the obvious choiceto became the voice of Penny. Penny Dreadfuls are a reader favorite in ShadesThe Magazine.

Denise, a native Californian, has worked as an editor and journalist
since publishing a neighborhood newspaper in grade school and taught
both journalism and literature in Pasadena schools for 19 years. She is a writer, researcher, and speaker with a passion for preserving and sharing family treasures of all kinds.

Denise is the creator of the
award-winning family history blog, TheFamilyCurator and author
of the new book How to Archive Family
Keepsakes: Learn How to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia and Genealogy
Records, (Family Tree Books, 2012).

About The Book

"Stuff" is a technical
term used by genealogists, family historians and collectors to denote
the material acquired in the pursuit of their passions. Stuff exists. Everywhere! But can you find it when you need it? Did you preserve it for generations to come?

I have two paperweights designated "Stuff" and "More Stuff." I can't find a thing.~ Linda~

Those who read Shades are interested in everything associated with photographs.

Photographs Themselves

Photograph Albums

Cameras

Resource Materials
And So Much More

Caring for family heirlooms is a rewarding adventure with hidden surprises;

you never know what you may find.

~ Denise Levenick ~

"Can you find it when you need it? Did you preserve it for generations?" are questions with solutions found in How To Archive Family Keepsakes. Organization takes a front seat in Denise's exceptionally well written and researched resource. Organization is the first word in the title of each chapter contained in the book. And organize she does and so will you once you read the book.

Of particular interest to readers of Shades is "Chapter 7 - Organize Archival Photos." Denise not only discusses the range and types of photographs we encounter, but also caring for them, organizing them, and storing them. I enjoyed reading Cautions, Tips, and Resources appearing in each chapter. They were packed with information."Chapter 10 - Digitize Your Family History" begins the journey into the world of computers, scanners, and digital archiving. Follow Denise's workflow examples; she has a confidence building common sense approach to technology.

While highlighting these two chapters, you should know that every chapter in the book is relevant to the position of curator and collector. You can use the book for quick answers, efficient archival workflow, digital savvy, collecting strategies, and most importantly confidence. Confidence that no matter what you acquire you have an answer as to how to proceed.

I keep the book on my desk and refer to it often. Treat yourself! It is so worth it.

Shades gives it 4 out of 4 old cameras:

Where to Buy and Read About The Book

Join the Blog Book Tour for How to Archive Family Keepsakes January 10-26, 2013, for author interviews, book excerpts, giveaways, and more. Visit the Blog Book Tour Page at The Family Curator website for the complete schedule.

Proceeds from the sale of How to Archive Family Keepsakes
during the Book Tour will help fund the 2013 Student Genealogy Grant
founded in 2010 in honor of Denise’s mother, Suzanne Winsor Freeman.

Full Discloursure: I received an autographed copy of the book from the author as a "cheer me up" gift when the world landed on me this past year. I can't thank her enough, but you can bet I would have bought it no matter what.

19 Comments:

fM, so thankful you are blogging again - especially hosting Denise on the blog tour for her book! I FB'ed Denise yesterday to tell her that the "tour" has inspired me to start documenting my keepsakes! Great to read you again,fM, & way to go, Denise!

I love your article especially the writing challenge using a family photo. What a great way to spark imagination! My mother inherited photo albums upon the death of her mother in 1973. I hope to assist her in getting these albums digitized.

This sounds like the book for me; not everything is a photograph; everything seems to have a story. I'm looking forward to figuring out what to do with the 1937 Pyrex casserole, new-in-box with the handwritten receipt from the Seattle Bon Marche. Eric J. Wilson, Everett, WA.

Been missing your blog! I am so glad you are feeling better and part of the tour. I am very interested in learning the best way to preserve all the family pictures that I have. The more I read on this book tour the more I realize that I need this book!

Thank you, fM, for putting out the red carpet for the blog book tour! I love visiting Shades!

I do wonder, Eric, if I might send you my address? My favorite Pyrex dish (brought home from Mom's house) burst apart just last night when I VERY absent-mindedly poured cool water into the dish. Quite dreadful! On second thought, it could happen to you too! You never know when you might need a replacement. But maybe you could share the Bon Marche recipe with us :>)

I'm so happy to read a blog from Footnote Maven, and more persuaded than ever to buy Denise's book. I'm in the midst of archiving about 1000 photographs, with a fraction of them over 100 years old. And I'm finally confronting the ephemera stored in boxes . . .

How lovely also to know that "stuff" is a term of art. As it should be, of course. : ))

Denise, my BFF, it was an honor. I admire you so very much. A book as content rich as yours is a massive amount of hard work, but you were up for the task. Now I can brag to my family that you're a friend. fM

I'm getting excited to read the book! I have many different types of photos to archive. I enjoyed reading about Denise's scanning workflow on her blog, so I'm sure the book will have even more great stuff!

Love your Shades Magazine! Lots of work to accomplish such a wonderful project Please continue these! Denise's book is on my acquire list of reference material. Looks like something I'll use for a long time.

As the wife of a professional photographer I know just how important it is to keep your photographs safe and cared for. Of all my family treasures my photos are the most important. When I'm asked what I would save first (after my family, of course!) I have always said "my photographs albums". I look forward to discovering your new ideas for photo archiving.

Guest Authors

Write The Editor

About Shades Of The Departed

I have been collecting photographs for over twenty years. This blog will discuss that collection, the types of categories I've developed for that collection, and the types of photographs I collect.
I will also share with you what I've learned or am learning about scanning, creating a database, analyzing and dating my collection, and anything else that strikes my fancy related to photography and my collection.

About The Collector

I am fascinated by the clues left in the photographs I collect. Every picture is a miniature mystery and I love a mystery.

My grandfather was a photographer who traveled with the famous Burton Holmes. I am fortunate to have original photographs by
both men.

When I was ten my grandfather gave me a camera as a birthday gift. It was evident that I did not inherit the "photographer gene."
I have taken only one photograph in my entire life that I liked, but I know a good one when I see it.

I am a great appreciator.

Fortunately, I don't take myself too seriously. I know enough about
collecting photographs to know I don't know everything, but I am learning.